Bookstore and blog for fans of international mysteries and thrillers
Time & Place: the fictional village of Three Pines in present-day Quebec, Canada
Plot: On the morning after the opening of artist Clara Morrow's solo show at the famed Musée in Montreal, she finds a corpse in her back garden. Chief Inspector Gamache, the head of homicide at the Sûreté du Québec, is called to Clara's tiny village and there he finds the art world gathered, and with it a world of shading and nuance, a world of shadow and light where nothing is as it seems: behind every smile lurks a sneer; inside every sweet relationship hides a broken heart. And even when facts are slowly exposed, it is no longer clear to Gamache and his team if what they've found is the truth, or simply a trick of the light.
First Few Lines of A Trick of the Light
"'Oh no, no, no,' thought Clara Morrow as she walked toward the closed doors.
"She could see shadows, shapes, like wraiths moving back and forth, back and forth across the frosted glass. Appearing and disappearing. Distorted yet still human."Excerpts from Reviews
"The superbly gifted Louise Penny is on my secret shortlist of must-read authors, and A TRICK OF THE LIGHT proves why. Artist Clara Morrow is about to have a prestigious show of her paintings when her childhood friend is found murdered, and the finger of suspicion points to Clara. Chief Inspector Gamache is called to investigate, and using his trademark powers of deduction and his intuitive knack for the right question at the right time, he exposes the darkness that underlies the bright stars of Montreal's art world, where competition between friends, and even between husband and wife, can turn lethal. Ultimately, of course, it's Louise Penny who steals the show, and A TRICK OF THE LIGHT will not only keep you engrossed from start to finish, it will teach you something new about love, truth, and the human heart.”—Lisa Scottoline
Kirkus Reviews: *Starred Review* “Penny, elevating herself to the pantheon that houses P.D. James, Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters, demonstrates an exquisite touch with characterization, plotting and artistic sensitivity. And there could be no better explanation of A.A. than you will find here.”
Publishers Weekly: *Starred Review* “Outstanding….With her usual subtle touch and timely injections of humor, Penny effectively employs the recurring motif of the chiaroscuro, the interplay of light and dark, which distinguishes Morrow's artwork and which resonates symbolically in the souls of the author's characters.”
RT Book Reviews: “Like P. D. James, Penny shows how the tight structure of the classical mystery story can accommodate a wealth of deeply felt emotions and interpersonal drama.”—Booklist“Penny’s characters are sharply drawn, realistically complicated and heartbreakingly real. Wonderful, complex characters and sophisticated plotting makes this a perfect book. Do not miss it.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
Books in this Series
A Dream Comes True
A Trick of the Light (2011, Chief Inspector Gamache/ Three Pines #7) by Louise Penny
Last Honourable Man in Surêté du Québec
Chief Inspector Gamache refused to turn a blind eye when his colleagues sucuumbed to corruption: now they will have their revenge. Can this cerebral and civilized cop prevail without losing his integrity —or his life?
Each book in this insightful series is wittier, wiser, and more wonderful than the last. Gamache may be the most compassionate investigator plying his trade in the pages of contemporary fiction.
When Clara finds a body in her back garden, the team heads to Three Pines for the seventh time. . .
WHO IS CHIEF INSPECTOR ARMAND GAMACHE?
In this book, fans find out if:
—Clara's life-long dream has come true
—Peter has cracked yet
—Olivier has forgiven Gamache
—Rosa has returned
—Agent Nichol has found a good dry cleaner
—Gamache has discovered Brebeuf's true feelings
—Ruth has brained Jean-Guy with her cane yet
